Telegraph switch mechanism



(No Maikel.)` 2 Sheets-Sheet', 1, F.7P. SCOTT.

TBLBG'RAPH SWITCH MBGHANISM. No. 571,695. Patented Nov. 17, 1896.

.1f-aff" N (No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. P. SCOTT.

TELEGRAPH SWITCH MECHANISM. l

No.571,6951 Patented Nov. l?, 1896'.

PHILADELPn/A.

wasn/Maron.

Nfw Yonw DE N VE Fr.

SAN FIf/lNlCQ.

fr X UNITED STATES PATENT Eril/3E.,

FRANK P. SCOT, OF TERRE IIAUIE, INDIANA.

TELEGRAPH SWITCH Wl ECIHANESIVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,695, dated November 17, 1896.

Application filed March 25, 1896. Serial No. 584,879. (No model.)

Be it known that I, FRANK l. SCOTT, oi" Terre Haute, county of Vigo, and State ot' Indiana, have invented a certain new and nse'lul Telegraph Switch Mechanism; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters and numerals refer. to like parts.

My invention relates to switches for telegraph-circuits in which the switching niccha-nism is operated by an electric inoto r an d the operation of said motor is controlled from a distant station.

The object of this invention is to provide a switch whereby a person at a branch station connected b 1 a loci to the main station i the niain station having a number of main lines running into it, may cut the loop running from the branch station to the main station into any of the main lines wit-hout theassistance ot a person at the inain station.

The switch is intended especially for the use of railway officials who have loops from the railway-chicos to their residences.

This switch Vmechanism enables them to have the use of several wires from their residences without the necessity of calling the main office to have the operator there connect up the loop-wire with the main wire desired.

Frequently it happens that the operator at the main oiiice is busy or for sonic reason causes a delay in making the connection. It furthermore frequently happens that the loop runs into a main oilice where there is no night operator, but the official at his residence may with my invention use his loop at night with any inain wire running into lthe switch at the niain oiiice.

My invention is furthermore useful in branch telegraph-cineos in cities which have a loop from the inain oiiice, as it ena-bles the branch o'lice to change from one main wire to another without the assistance of the operator at the main oiiice.

The above object is attained by the mechanism and arrangement of wires illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following spcciiication.

In the drawings, Figure lis aside elevation of the mechanism Vwhich I use, the switchboard being partly broken away and the various circuits and connections shown in diagram. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my switchboard, all but one of the return main wires being` broken away. Fig. is a central vertical section ol' a portion ot the switchboard and the switch-arm shaft and connecting parts. Fig. l is a section of aportion of the switchboard on the line -l l of Fig. Z3, showing apair ot the contact-pieces in side elevation. Fig. 5 is a cross-section ot the switch-arm shaft at 7 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. (i is the saine at G G of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a section ot the lever and adj ustable screw on the switchboard.

l provide a suitable switchboard l, built upon a base-board-, if desired. 0n this baseboard I mount a small motor that is supplied with electricity by the wire A, running from the battery l. The motor ot course is provided with the shaft 5, extending through a suitable framework C, that is connected up with the switchboard by the bolts '7. Said shaft 5 carries on its end rigidly a pinion S, that meshes with the spur-gear 9. On the shaft of said spur-gear is another pinion IO, that meshes with the spur-gear ll whose shaft in turn is provided with a long pinion 12, that meshes with the spu r-gear 13, which is carried on the switch-arm shaft li. This gearing of course may be modified, as may be desired, to enable the inotor to properly drive the shaft ll. The shaft extends through the switchboard and carries on its end the switcharm.

The switch-arm is composed of the metallic strips l5 and lli, with the insulating-strip l? between them, whereby they are insulated from each other. On the face ot the switchboard, as seen in Fig. 2, l arrange in a circle around the shaft ll a series ot spring-contacts, so disposed that the end ot the switch-arm as it is rotated will pass between them and separate thorn.

As seen in Fig. l the contactieces consist.

of a lower spring metallic strip 18, secured at one end to the switchboard and bent so that the other end will beheld sonic distance from the board. The other or outer contact-piece 19 is held by the post 20, that is secured to the board. The two contact-pieces forming the pair are arranged so that their ends will engage each other, excepting when the switch- ICO arm is between them, as shown in Fig. Each pair of the spring contact-pieces is connected up with the main-line wire, as seenin Fig. 3. There, it will be observed, the line Yl leads from the switch and is connected up with the inner contact-piece 18 by means of the post 21. The main line X leads to the switch and is connect-ed up with the contact-piece 19 by means of the binding-post 22. It is then seen that the wire leading from the switch when the switch-arm is between the contactpieces is connected up with the inner metallic strip 15 of said switch-arm, while the wire X', leading to the switch, is connected up with the outer metallic strip 1G of said arm.

The lever 23 is centrally pivoted at 24 to the post 25, which is secured to the switchboard. It is drawn normally toward the outer contact-piece 19 by the spring-26- ltsinnerend is provided with the ad justing-screw 50,which carries on its end insulation 5l to insulate it from the contact-piece 19. At its other end such lever, when the switch-arm is not between the contact-pieces 18 and 19, connects up the wires B2 and B3 through the bindingpost 27, that is carried by the bracket 28, secured to the switchboard. The wire B leads from the motor to the switch, and the wires B2 connect the binding-posts 27 in series, as shown in Fig. 2, the circuit being completed by the wire B3, that leads back to the battery.

Extending to the rear 'from the switchboard is a pin or post 29, carrying a brush 30, that engages the collar 31, which is mounted on the shaft 1.4 and suitably insulated therefrom. There is also another post 32, carrying another brush 33, that engages with another collar 34, similarly mounted. The first-named collar 31 is connected up with the inner metallic strip 15 of the switch-arm by the wire Y2, which lies in the recess or groove 35 in the shaft,as seen in Fig. (i. The other collar 34 is similarly connected up with the outer metallic strip 16 by means of the wire X2. These two wires X2 and Y2 are secured to the switch-arm by suitable binding-posts.

The brush 30 is connected up with the magnet 36 by the wire X2, andthe brush is connected up with the magnet 37 by the wire Y2. These magnets are connected up with the duplicate pair, the magnet 3G being connected with the magnet 38 by the wire X4 and the magnet 37 being conn eoted with the magnet 39 by the wire Yi. The magnets are carried on a suitable base-board 40.

41 is a small switchboard at the branch station carrying the switch-arms 42 and 43. The magnet 38 is connected up with the switcharm 42 by the wire X5, and said switch-arm is connected up with the relay 49 by the wire X, The magnet 39 is connected up with the switch-arm 43 by the wire Y5,which in turn is connected 'up with the relay by the wire Y6. The wire X5 is grounded by connecting up the switch 43 with the wire YT, and the wire Y5 is grounded by connecting up the switch 42 by the wire XT. The wires X7 and Y7 are run to the ground in any suitable manner, as shown in Fig. 1.

Between each pair of magnets I place an armature, the armature 44 being placed between the magnets 36 and 37 and the armature 45 placed between the magnets 38 and 39. These magnets are of equal resistance. Then one of the loop-lines is not grounded, the armature is maintained in the position shown. Each armature is provided with a contact-point 46, which is held out of engagement with the contact-point 47 on the opposing magnet by the springs 48. lVhen, however, one of the branch wires is grounded, so as to destroy the equality of attraction between the opposing magnets, one of the armatures is drawn into contact with the contact-piece 47. The armature 44 is connected up with the motor by the wire C', and the contact piece or point 47 is connected with the battery by the wire C2. Likewise, the armature 45 is connected with the motor by the wire D, and its contact-point 47 is connected with the battery by the wire D2. It will thus be seen that there are three local circuits in this device, all through the motor. One consists of the wire B', running to the switchboard and the wires B2 around it, returning by the wire B3 to the battery and thence by the wire A to the motor. The second circuit consists of the wire C', leading from the motor to the armature of one set of the magnets, and the wire C2, leading therefrom to the battery, which is connected up with the 'motor by the wire A. The third local circuit consists of the wire D' to the second set of magnets and the wire D2, leading therefrom back to the battery, which is connected up with the motor by the wire A.

It is also to be observed that the circuit through the main lines about the loop is as follows: This circuit is through the main wire X', leadingv from a distant point, the binding-post 22, the outer contact-piece 19, the outer plate 16 of the switch-arm, the wire X2, leading to the collar 31, said collar and the brush 30, the wire X2, leading to the magnet 3G, the wire X4, leading to the magnet 38, the wire X5, leading to the switchboard in the branch office, the switch-arm 42 on such Switchboard, and the wire X6, leading to the relay. From the relay the circuit passes through the wire Y, the switch-arm 43, the wire YS, the magnet 39, the wire Yi, the magnet 37, the wire Y2, the brush 33, the collar 34, the wire Y2, the inner plate 15 of the switcharm, the inner contact-piece 18, the bindingpost 21, to the main wire Y'.

It is of course observed that when the switch-arm on the main switchboard is not between the contact-pieces 18 and 19 the loop or branch ofiice is wholly cut out. The man at the branch ofiice grounds one of the wires X5 or Y5. If X5, he turns the switch 43 to the position shown by the dotted lines. This destroys the equality of the attraction between the opposing magnets in each pair, so that IOO IIO

the armature li is drawn into contact with the contact-piece 47; or if the wire Y5 be grounded the armature i will be drawn into contact with the contactpoint i7. This closes the circuit through the motor. I secure a strong machine by duplicatin g the magnets, but that does not affect the principle of operation. XVhen this circuit is closed through the motor, it begins to operate, turning its shaft 5, and through its gearing and shaft it it rotates the switch-arm. 1n this manner the switch-arm is moved from between the pair of contact-pieces 1S and 19, where it was left by the preceding operation et t-he device, that is, as seen in Fig. 2,the switch-arm connects the branch office with the Philadelphia oi'lice.

Suppose the man at the branch oiiicc desires to talk with Washington. In such case he adopts the method which l have just described, which moves the switch-arm from between the contact-pieces to which the Philadelphia wires are connected up.

After the switch-arm leaves said contactpiece the circuit through the motoris further maintained, whereby it is kept in operation by the inner end o the lever being permitted to move toward the switchboard, whereupon its outer end will be connected u p with the contact-piece in the binding-post 27 and close the circuit between the wire B2, leading to said lever 3, an d the wire B3, leading from said binding-post 27. ln this way the circuit through the motor is established, passing through the wires B and B2, as shown in Fig. 2, back through the wire B3 to the battery and wire A to the motor. As has been stated, this circuit will continue the running of the motor until the switch-arm passes between the next pair of contact-pieces 18 and 19, and the loop-circuit is closed by turning the switch-arm i3 into the position shown in Fig. 1.

li", as has been presumed,the operator at the branch office desires to connect up with the main line on the switchboard he can throw the switch-arm 3 back into place as soon as he has permitted the motor to run long enough to carry the main switch-arm from between the contact -pieces on the switchboard, for after that the switchboardcircuit through the motor will cause the further operation of the motor, as has been described. lf, however, he desires to move his switch-arm from the Philadelphia line tothe Boston line, he should leave his branch ofiice grounded until the switch-arm is approaching the contact-piece to which the Boston line is connected. After he has closed the loop-line the main switch-arm will stop at the next pair ot contact-pieces, for as soon as it is moved by the motor in between them, as seen in Fig. 3, the motor-circuit is broken and the circuit from the main lines through the loop is established.. The circuit through the motor is broken because when the main switch-arm separates the contact-pieces 18 CYS and 1'.) it moves the level-23 into the position shown in Fig. The contact-pieces 18 and are made long enough to allow fort-heinrther movement of the switch-arm by reason of the momentum of the motor after the circuit through it has been broken.

It is clear that the armatures 4i and 45 are not affected by the ordinary working of the line, owing to the fact that the resistance of the magnets opposing each other in each pair is equal, and the attraction of one balances the other, and the tension of the spring 4S keeps the contact-points 4:6 and 47 separate excepting when the loop-wire is grounded, as has been described. The operator at the branch station will know that the main switch-arm has passed from between the contact-pieces because of the absence of a circuit through his instrument.

Besides the objects and advantages which I have already enumerated there are others that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. For instance, if the wire to which is connected the loop is open one way or the other by use of this switch the loop could be changed to another wire, thus enabling the person at the branch station to communicate in either direction.

NVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a telegraph switch mechanism, the combination with the switch-arm and its shaft, of a motor so connected up with the shaft as to operate it, a battery, an armature, a contact-point, a circuit through the motor, arm ature, contact-point and battery, a branch line connected up with the magnet which operates the armature, and means on the branch line for operating said armature.

In a telegraph switch mechanism, the combination with a switch-arm and its shaft, of a motor so connected up with such Shaft as to operate it, a battery, a pair oi magnets, an armature between them, a contact-point, a circuit through the motor, armature, contact-point, and battery, a loop-line through the magnets connected up with the main line, and means for opening and closing such loopline.

3. In a telegraph switch mechanism, the combination with a switch-arm and its shaft, of a motor so connected up with the shaft as to operate it, a battery, a pair of magnets, an armature between the same, a contact-point, a spring normally holding the armature away from such contact-point, a circuit through the armature, contact-point and batter a loop-line conn ected up with the In ain line and running through the magnets to a branch oiiice, and a ground-switch within suoli loopline at the branch office.

4. In a telegraph switch mechanism, a series of circuit-breakers on the switchboard, a switch-arm that engages the circuit-breakers serict/zm, a motor that operates the switcharm, a 'circuit through the motor and the series of circuit-breakers when the switch-arm ICO IIO

is free from contact, and means for breaking' such circuit when the switch-arm is in contact.

5. In a telegraph switch mechanism, a series of circuit-breakers on the switchboard provided with spring contact-pieces, a switcharm that engages the contact-pieces seriali/m and moves them somewhat, a motor that operates the switch-arm, and a circuit through the motor and series of circuit-breakers, such circuit so connected up with the circuit-breakers as to be broken when the switch-arm is in such engagement with a spring contactpiece as to force it in a position for opening the circuit.

6. In a telegraph switch mechanism, a series of pairs of spring contact-pieces on the switchboard, a switclrarm that engages the contact-pieces scr/at'im and passes between each pair, a motor that operates the switcharm, a spring-controlled lever so pivoted that its inner end will always engage one contactpiece of a pair, a contact-point with which the other end of such lever engages when a contactpiece resumes its normal position after the passage from it of the switch-arm, and a circuit through the motor and the series of levers and contact-points, substantially as set forth.

7. In a telegraph switch mechanism, a switchboard having on its face a pair of contact-pieces, a shaft mounted in said switchboard, a motorl to drive such shaft, a switcharm mounted on the shaft comprising strips insulated from each other, collars mounted on the shaft, brushes mounted t0 engage the collars, wires connecting the collars with the metallic strips in the switch-arm, and wires extending from the brushes to the relay whereby a circuit from the main lines to the relay is effected through the switch-arm and rotary shaft.

8. A telegraph switch mechanism comprising a suitable framework having a switchboard, contact-pieces on the switchboard, main-line wires connected up with such contact-pieces, a shaft in the framework, a motor to drive the shaft, a switch-arm mounted on the shaft comprising metallic strips insulated from eachother, a movable lever mounted on the switchboard one end of which engages one of the contact-pieces, -a contact-point to be engaged by the lever, a battery, a circuit through the motor, battery, and lever and contact-point for each contact-piece, collars mounted on the shaft, brushes mounted to engage the collars, wires connecting the collars with the strips of the switch-arm, a pair of opposing magnets, wires connecting the brushes with the magnets, a branch oflice having a switch, wires leading from the magnets to such switch, an armature between such magnets, a contact-point, and a circuit through the motor, battery, armature, and contact-point, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, 1896.

FRANK P. SCOTT. W'itnesses:

C. A. GORDON, ALLYN G. ADAMS. 

